By the age of 80, cerebral blood flow is approximately 20% less than at age 30, which means that the heart has less capacity for physical exertion and may feel fatigued more easily. As a result, we feel a gradual decline in our energy and endurance levels.
But getting older doesn't automatically sideline you from being active. Usually, our energy declines because of normal changes. Both genes and environment lead to alterations in cells that cause aging muscles to lose mass and strength and to become less flexible. As a result, strenuous activities become more tiring.
It might be the busiest time of your life, when you are juggling a demanding career with starting a family and progressing up the housing ladder. But thankfully people in their early 30s are more than equipped to deal with these stresses - as it is the age at which they have the most energy .
As we get older, low energy tends to become more common – one recent study suggested that nearly a third of people over the age of 51 experience fatigue. Lack of energy in over 50s can be linked to a number of causes and reasons, including: Menopause. Low testosterone levels.
There are plenty of potential culprits. Medications for blood pressure, sleep problems, pain and gastrointestinal reflux can induce fatigue, as can infections, conditions such as arthritis, an underactive thyroid, poor nutrition and alcohol use. All can be addressed, doctors say.
"Often, people do feel more tired as they get older, but it's because they're not getting enough sleep, eating right, or exercising regularly, not because they're older," she says. In other words, the culprit comes down to lifestyle, not age.
Ongoing fatigue in seniors can be caused by chronic conditions, making it important to monitor and report any new symptoms of weakness and exhaustion to your care team. Some common underlying health conditions that can contribute to fatigue in older adults include: Diabetes. Heart disease.
Fatigue around menopause occurs because of changing hormone levels, night sweats and other sleep disruptions, or other issues. You might feel physically and mentally drained or just plain tired.
Sleep hygiene practices
not having a regular bedtime routine, which includes consistent sleep and wake times. taking long daytime naps. looking at phone or computer screens before going to bed. having a sleeping environment that is too hot, too bright, or too loud.
Most of us — both men and women — say the age we feel the best about our bodies is 27, according to the TODAY/AOL Ideal to Real Body Image Survey released this week. Not only is 27 our magic age, we feel best about our overall appearance at age 28. And when do we believe we experience the “most success”?
To the researchers' surprise, 15- to 24-year-olds - the youngest people in their study - said they felt the most fatigued of all during daily activities. The difference between the two age groups was almost one full point on a scale of 0 to 6, with 6 representing “very tired.”
At 23, life satisfaction is at its highest.
All things considered, 23 is the magic number for feeling particularly satisfied with your life.
Aging has many wonderful aspects, but one of the many problems is that we do not have the stamina and energy we did when younger. That is a normal part of aging and just something that comes with the territory. However, being excessively tired or listless can be termed fatigue.
Move more.
Even a few minutes of movement a few times a day can prevent dips in energy levels. If you can, take a walk in the morning sunshine. You'll get energized for the day, and the dose of early sun helps regulate your circadian rhythm, which helps you sleep better at night.
Vitamin B is recommended as one of the top vitamins to help with tiredness, so you can also opt for a supplement if you're struggling to stay topped up through your diet. Vitamins should be used alongside a balanced diet.
It could be due to poor sleep quality, lifestyle factors such as stress, poor diet, and lack of exercise or an underlying health condition. It is also possible that you may not be getting enough deep sleep or REM sleep, which can leave you feeling tired even after a full night's sleep.
But the truth is, the reasons for the ever-present sleepiness are usually non-medical in nature. Most likely, you're still tired after eight hours of sleep because of these three factors: (1) you don't know your sleep need, (2) you're not taking into account your sleep efficiency, and (3) you carry sleep debt.
The two most likely reasons you're always so tired no matter how much sleep you get are you've got high sleep debt or you're not living in sync with your circadian rhythm. You may also feel sleepy if you're ill, pregnant, or you've got a medical condition like anemia or diabetes.
According to their internal body clock, most older adults need to go to sleep around 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. and wake up at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. Many people fight their natural inclination to sleep and choose to go to bed several hours later instead.
Sleep and Aging
Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But, older people tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than they did when they were younger. There are many reasons why older people may not get enough sleep at night.
What's happening. With age, bones tend to shrink in size and density, weakening them and making them more susceptible to fracture. You might even become a bit shorter. Muscles generally lose strength, endurance and flexibility — factors that can affect your coordination, stability and balance.
It is a common misconception that older adults require less sleep than younger individuals. Many older adults have a hard time getting the sleep they need, but that does not mean they need less sleep. In general, adults should aim to get at least seven hours of sleep each night.
Mental laziness and lack of motivation can also be caused by one simple problem: not having enough exercise and nutrients in the body. One should consider eating healthy food high in protein, such as green, leafy vegetables, and fatty fish. Research also suggests eating berries and walnuts and drinking coffee or tea.